
Btvc lotk: 



No. 103 Nassau Street, cor. Ann. 



THE GOLD MINE. 



A PLAY. 



i3sr :fi"v^e ^A-Cts. 



/ BY 

IRENE ACKERMAN 



v 



NEW YORK: 
JOHN P O L H E M U S , 

I02 Nassau Street. 



I AUli 



^:' 



'5 



Copyright, 1880, by Irene Ackerman. 
All rights reserved. 



THE GOLD MINE 



DRAMATI8 PERSON.^. 



Mrs. Virginia Desmond. 

Miss Bessie Granger. 

Kitty. 

Mr. Covert. 

Fred Clancey. 

Mr. Sylvester. 

Bob. 

John L. Simpkins. 

Crazy George. ) 

Mr. Desmond. ) 

Foreman. 

Miners. 

Notary and Clerks. 



Costumes : Modern. 



ACT I. 

Scene I. — Parlor in Mr. Corert^x tiilla on the H^idson. Kitty 
discoi'iered lookiiKj at herself (idniiriiKjh/ i/t the udrror. 

Kitty. There! "If I only liad money," as my mistress says, 
wouldn't I have any number of beaux':' Kitty, you'ro a very 
pretty, pretty, pretty girl {^tiuikes <i ex rise;/ before the mirror) 
You have beautiful eyes, splendid hair. 

Enter iiois. 

Boh. Kitty, is that you ? 

Kitty. Oil ! how you frightened me ! 



4 THE GOLD MINE. 

Bob. You talk so loud. I heard the voice outside, and I 
looked in to see who it was. 

Kitty. What did you hear, smart ? 

Bob. "Pretty, pretty, pretty ; splendid hair." 

Kitty. I was repeating what soniebody said to rae. 

Bob {in a rage). Tell me who said tliat. 

Kitty. None of your business — there ! 

Bob. I'll make it my business. If I find him out he won't tell 
it to you again. 

Kitty. He will. He ! It ain't only one he that says that to 
me {eoxnts on her Jijigers). There's the tall one, that's one; 
the fat one, that's two ; the lean one, that's thx'ee ; the big one, 
that's four ; the little one, that's five ; the handsome one, that's 
six ; the one with the moustache, that's seven ; the one with the 
whiskers, that's eight ; the soldier is nine ; somebody I won't tell 
is ten ; and two more that are coming Sunday night makes a 
dozen, this week. 

(Bob going up and down the stage distracted. Kitty following 
close behind, business with apron, makes motions as if drio- 
ing geese. 

Kitty. Sho ! sho ! sho ! sho ! sho ! 

Bob. What are you doing ? 

Kitty. Driving a goose to the madhouse. 

Bob (sinks in a chair). Woman, you trifle with a man's heart, 
that bleeds a cupful every minute with your cruelty. 

Kitty. A man's heart — a fool's mug; making ugly faces and 
talking nonsense. 

Bob. O Kitty, have pity ! you make me feel dreadful ; your 
cruelty fills my eyes with water. 

Kitty. Take five cents' worth of Rochelle salts every moi-ning 
till you have spent all your wages ; that will clear your eyesight. 
Get up out of that chair and help me. to tidy up the parlor. 

Bob [arranges furniture, stops, turns around, and sees Kitty 
in a chair reading). Kitty, don't be so cross. Say one sweet 
word. 

Kitty. No. 

Bob. Just smile once. (Kitty smiling, puts the book down.) 
Now you look sweet. 



THE GOLD MINE. 5 

Kitty. I wasn't smiling at you; I was thinking of what my 
mistress said this morning. 

Bob. What was it ? 

Kitty. She said, " What a funny world this is." 

Boh. I've heard many aone say that. 

Kitty. You're so smart. Did you ever hear any one say what 
she next said '? 

Boh. What was it ? 

Kitty. That the washer on the North Pole must be loose ; for 
this world was wabling and didn't turn smooth — that nothing goes 
right now — and no one gets what they want. 

Boh. I know what I want, and I can't get it. 

Kitty. You want sense, and you never will get it. 

Boh. I'd give all the sense of the seven wise men to get some- 
thing that I want. 

Kitty. Oh ! indeed. 

Boh. Yes, indeed. 

Kitty. Is it money ? 

Bob. No; it ain't money. 

Kitty. What is it ? 

Bob. Don't you know ? Guess: 

Kitty. Chicken pie? (Bob shakes his head). Hot buns? 
{shakes his head.) New clothes? (shakes his head.) Candy? 
{shakes his head.) Hair oil ? 

Bob {getting in a rage). Hair oil,? 

Kitty. Yes! You want that to keep your hair smooth: it 
stands up like corn-stalks in a field. 

Bob. Well, if it does, it is all my own; 'tain't bought like 
yours. 

Kitty. My hair bought ? May be you'll say my complexion is 
bought, too, you stuffed fool ! You don't know what's good when 
you see it. 

Boh. Yes, I do. Don't get mad; I didn't mean it. 

Kitty. May be you'll say I'm ugly next ? 

Boh. You're handsomer than a peach. 

Kitty. No I ain't ; my hair is bought. {Pouts.) 

Boh. No it ain't. 

Kitty {still pouting). Why did you say so, then? 



6 TlIK GOLD MIXE. 

Boh. Because yovi abused my liair. 

Kitti/. Aiifl T will again. {Bell rings mitskle.) There, ray 
mistress wants me. 

Bob. I want you move than any body in the world. {Bell 
rings agahi.) Oh ! let her wait. 

Kitty. But she wants me. 

Boh. But T want you so bad, I'll die, or drown myself if I 
can't get you. 

Kitty. To wait on you V 

Boh. No ! {getting closer to Kitty) but for me to wait on you 
— I'll only ask you to do one thing — that you must be doing 
always. 

Kitty. What's that? 

Bob. Only this {attempting to kiss her. Kitty slaps his face. 
Bell rings again. Kitty runs — stops — turns.) 

Kitty. Carry that, and sell it at the shop where I bought my 
hsLU- {makes faces at hi/a). [Kxit Kitty. 

Boh {rubbing his cheeA'). Don't she hit hard, and don't she 
look pretty. 

Enter Fred. 

Fred. Don't who look pretty V 

Bob. Miss Bessie, sir {goes to the window) ; look at her 
chasing that pony. (Fred looks out the window.) Ain't that a 
picture? Don't my young lady look pretty, sir? 

Fred. Bob, you're a good fellow; there's a dollar for you. I 
think I'll go and help her to catch the pony. Bob, were you 
ever in love ? 

Bob. "Was I ever in love?" Why I'm in love now. 

Fred. If you are, don't make-an ass of yourself by talking so 
loud. Come here ! Will you stick by me ? Here's another 
dollar. 

Boh. I like that. {Holds out his hand.) More sticking 
plaster. 

Fred. There's another dollar. 

Bob. {still holding out his hand.) Another one. And I'll stick 
like Cooper's glue. 

JF^'ed. No more for the present. 



THE GOLD MIVE. 7 

Bob. Well, I'll stick three dollars' worth — stick one week 
for three dollars. 

tred. I'll give you three dollars every week. 

Boh. Then I'll stick by the week. I'm stuck to you for the 
first week ; stuck close. What is it, Mr. Fred ? 

Fred. Bob ! I love Miss Bessie. Help rae. Bob, and if I win 
her I'll raise your wages. 

Bob. Then take my advice and don't tell her her hair is 
bought ; it's dreadful bad luck to tell them their hair is bought. 

Fred. Oh, shut up and listen to me. 

Bob. That's a nice way to treat a three-dollar man that's 
sticking as close to you as a postage stamp, and will carry you 
through as safe. 

Fred. Bob, I love Miss Bessie ; I love her dreadfully ; I have 
loved her ever since I was a boy. 

Bob. I know that, many a time when you were a little fellow 
you made me skin my shins climbing the trees to get the big- 
gest apples for you to give her when you went to school ; and 
many a time you walked the legs off of me following you and her, 
while you children rode round and round the lawn on the little 
Shetland ponies, and since then, haven't you kept me running to 
her with everything in the world ? 

Fred. I loved her when a child, when a boy at school, and 
vacation ; when at college, all my poetry I wrote to her ; all my 
hopes I placed upon her, and now, since I am a man, I worship 
her. If any one was to come between me and her it would kill 
me, for then life would be worthless. 

Bob. If I was a ladies' waiting maid, and Miss Bessie was the 
lady, and I was the maid, I think she'd tell me them very same 
words about you, and I think she'd give me six dollars a week 
instead of three to stick close to her, for fear some other young 
lady would cut her out. 

Fred. Do you think that ? 

Bob. I do ; but if you'll make it six dollars instead of three 
I'll swear to it, Master Fred. 

F'red. I won't pay three dollars for swearing. Bob, you're 
too fond of money ; tell them to have my horse ready in an hour. 

\^Exit Bob. 



8 THK GOLD MINE. 

(Fred goes to the winthtir; looks out). I can't see her; she 
must be hidden by the trees. {Sits hi chair loohmci out of win- 
dow.) 

Enter Bessie l. o. 

Bessie {sits donm^faiiHiHy herself vjitJi her hat). Oh! lam so 
tired. Pony was so full of fun this morning — he loves a run as 
well as I do. {Turns and sees P'ked.) You there ? 

Fred. Good mornmg, Bessie ; you and the pony had a run V 

Bessie. And such a run. Pony would not let me catch him ; 
he ran round and round the grass plat, in and out under the trees, 
until at last I had to stop for breath, then the darling little fel- 
low came and ])ut his head over my shoulder for his piece of 
sugar. 

Fred. Do you give him sugar? 

Bessie. Only one lump every morning. 

FVed. Bessie, are you not too big now to be chasing a pony ? 

Bessie. Why shouldn't I play with him? I know he is old 
now, and I am too heavy for him to carry me as he used to do 
when we were children, but I love him more, and he loves me a 
great deal more than he did when T was a little girl, and I love 
him besides because 

Fred {leaning over her chair). Because what? because I gave 
him to you, is that it ? 

Bessie {looking do/cn). Yes. 

Fred. And I am like the pony ; I love you a great deal more 
than when you were a little girl — ever so much more — so much 
more that words can't tell you. All my life I have loved you. 
Bessie, darling, I could not exist without loving you. Bessie, 
dear, won't you let me love you forever ? 

Bessie. Forever. 

F^'ed. Forever and ever, and ever? 

Bessie. Yes. 

tred. My own forever. {Bessie rests her head on his shoul- 
der, his arm around her waist.) And be my own — my wife ? 

Bessie {in same position). Yes, dear, 

{Fnter, r. c, Mrs. Virginia Desmond. Stops looking at them.) 



THE GOLD MINE. V 

Mrs. D. (aside.) They are so happy — I won't disturb them. 

[£/xit Mrs. D. 

Miter Bob. 

Hob. The horse. [Bessie exits. Runs off left. 

Fred. Confound you, what do you want ? 
Bob. Come to tell you your horse is ready, sir. 
Fred. Hang you and the horse. \^Exit Fred. 

Bob. That's what a man gets for sticking close at three dol- 
lars a week. \^Exit Bob. 

Enter, r. c, Mrs. Desmond. 

Mrs. D. (looking after Bessie). Gone! Will she ever be as 
happy again ? She is a true-hearted, noble girl ; too good, far too 
good, for that vain, selfish, conceited, masculine nothing. Yet 
she believes in that man's love. Once I was as trustful, once I 
had faith in men. Now I believe in nothing — (takes out minia- 
ture ; speaking to it) — except in you, my darling, oh ! my hus- 
band, be you alive or dead. None can ever shake my faith in you, 
my lost one. But is he dead ? Covert would have me think so. 
I pretend to believe him. Something tells me my darling is not 
dead. To that hope I cling. But, oh ! the anguish of this un- 
certainty ! Here am I, once more Covert's guest. The last time 
I was here, my husband and my money vanished. Where, I know 
not. How, I know not, except that Desmond went West to pur- 
chase something from somebody. Now I am here to know, and 
know it all I will. Covert, I feel — aye, feel — to you I owe my loss 
of husband, lover, gold. I will strike you thro' that gold you 
worship. Gold is power. Gold ! gold ! oh ! how 1 love that 
word gold ? Oh ! how I love to hear men talk to me of gold ! 

Enter Mr. Francis Covert. 

Mr. C. (boicing.) Good morning ! You're looking charming, 
Mis. Desmond — ladies that look well so early in the morning 
prove their charms are their own. 

Mrs. D. (laughing.) Gentlemen that are so complimentary so 
early prove their charms are more than their own, and are so ex- 



10 THE GOLD MIKTE. 

quisitely agreeable tliat we lose sight of their insincerity while 
listening to the music of their address. 

Mr. G. I wish that my address might ever be music to your 
ears. 

Mrs. D. (laughing.) And is it not V Indeed I do not know 
which most to admire, the beauty of the instrument or the sounds 
that come from it. 

Mr. C. I wish I could l)elieve that either of them really pleased 
you. 

Mrs. D. Indeed, they both do. 

Mr. C. {getting closer to her.) Which do you like the best — 
the instrument or the music? [Taking her hand.) 

Mrs. D. Like a grand piano, they are both perfect. 

Mr. 0. The instrument may be ever so fine, but it depends on 
the pla^^er whether it produces discord or harmony. I have heard 
some very discordant sounds come from the grandest instrument. 

Mrs. D. So have I ; and I pitied the splendid piano, and 
thought that if it could speak it would say to the player, " Leave 
me alone ! go away ! get an accordian ! you don't understand 
me !" Then I've imagined its delight when a Liszt touched its 
keys and produced its power, the soul-entrancing power that, 
while it speaks, makes thousands breathlessly listen, filling the 
senses with emotion and the heart with joy. 

Mr. C. If I was the piano and you the player all my best 
qualities would come forth in brightness and even my faults be 
tuned to merits. 

Mrs. D. I fear I lack the skill to play on such a grand piano. 

Mr. C. Your modesty bespeaks your merits. Will you not 
play just one piece this morning V 

Mrs. I), {laughing). I have no notes to play from. 

Mr. C. I will give you all the notes you wish, if you will only 
play. 

Mrs. D. {laughing). I am very hard to please — the score must 
be very heavy to suit my taste. 

Mr. C. In the hundreds V 

Mrs. D. That will do for beginners; I am more classical in my 
selections. 

Mr. C In the thousands. 



THE GOLP MIXE. 11 

Mrs. D. {laughing). That depends on the length of the bar, 

3Ir. C. I fear you would require a prince for your composer. 

3Irs. I). That or a banker ; (looking at him meaninglg) or a 
great man who is very lavish with other peoples' notes. 

Mr. C. You would despise such a musician. 

Mrs. D. Say, rather, I would choose hfm in preference to others 
— any one can be prodigal with their own. The commonest man 
can do this, but it takes the greatest talents, and the finest skill to 
])rocure tlie notes of others, and having obtained them to use 
them so as to make the world honor the holder. To do this 
it requires a braver man than Wellington, a more ambitious man 
than Napoleon, and a greater dreamer than Festus. If I had 
such a man's confidence, T could worship him — if 

Mr. C. {eagerly). "If ," say on. 

3Irs. D. {laughing). If he gave me some of the notes. 

Mr. C. {affectio) lately). Would you assist him to get them, so 
he might share them with you ? 

Mrs. D. Would I? yes, aye! that I would; I'd work with him 
day and night; plan, devise, conceive, help, assist, aid, and combine 
with him to drain the world of all its precious ores, and make 
each coin, each golden coin, fall in the hands of he and I. The rain 
of that golden shower would be sweeter to me than all the music 
of the spheres. 

Mr. C. Grand — splendid woman! The only one I ever saw 
that understood me. From this time out we are one — one in ob- 
ject — one in plans — one in interest. 

Mrs. D. Will you prove your sincerity ? 

Mr. C Ask what you will to prove it. 

Mrs. D. Give me ten thousand dollars as a first dividend of the 
association. 

3[r. (J. I will bring it to you myself. 

Mrs. D. Order your carriage; I will drive to the bank with 
you; I think a ride would benefit me. (Mr, C, ritigs.) 

Miter Bob. 
Mr. C. Tell them to have the carriage got ready at once. 



12 THE GOLD MINE. 

Mrs. D. Tell Kitty I want her. 

Mr. (J. Go and get ready, and allow me to drive you as far as 
the bank {kissing her hand) to give you the money. 

Picture. 

* Eni> Act I. 



ACT II. 

Scene I. — Sauie parlor. Bessie discovered sitting on the sofa 
with a novel in her lap, thinking. 

Miter Fred. 

J^red goes on tiptoe behind Bessie, leaning over, kisses her. 

IJessie starts. 

Bessie. Oh ! {Sniiling — looking iqj in his /are.) 

IVed. What was my Bessie thinking of? 

Bessie. Of that beautiful place you showed me. How I wish 
it was oui's. 

Fred. I have made inquiries about it since then. 

Bessie {eagerly). Have you ? And did you buy it ? 

Fred. No, dear. We cannot afford it. 

Bessie. "Afford it?" Haven't we money enough to buy it? 

Fred. Yes — but we would want a good deal of money to keep 
up such a place ; it would take an income of at least thirty thous- 
and dollars a year. And you know, dear, we must have money to 
live on; what you and I have got is only a little bit over one 
hundred and filty thousand dollars, and they are asking almost 
that for the place. 

Bessie {pettishly). But I want it so badly. 

Fred. What am I to do, dear ? Would you have me pay all 
you and I have for a mansion and grounds ? After we bought it 
what would we live on V 

Bessie {peevishly). I don't know ; 1 want that place. 

Fred. We can buy beautiful places for one-fourth the money. 



THE GOLD MINE. 13 

JBessie {impatiently). I want that j)lace. 

Fred. Darling, be reasonable ; that place was built by a mil- 
lionaire, who is now a bankrupt. It was one of the extravagances 
that hastened his ruin, and I do not want it to ruin my Bessie. 

£es,ne. Plow could it ruin us when we owned it? 

Fred. Because then we would have to live in a style beyond 
our means — or be the laughing-stock of the country. 

Bessie [irritably). "The laugliing-stock?" Why should we 
when we own so splendid a place? 

Fred. Because then, dear, that's all we would own, and we 
couldn't even furnish it. Just think of receiving visitors in those 
grand saloons, with no carpets to the floors or curtains to the win- 
dows, with a few common chairs and perhaps a hair-covered sofa, 
to receive company in a grand empty house ; that's why we would 
be a " laughing-stock," and I do not want to have my Bessie ap- 
pear ridiculous. 

Bessie. " Appear ridiculous !" indeed ! 

Fred. But, darling, don't you see it would require the income 
of a prince to 

Bessie. But you are better than a prince. 

Fred. My darling ? 

Bessie. Won't you buy me that place, dear? 

Enter r. c. Mks. Desmond and Mr. Covert. 

Mrs. Desmond. Planning for the fairy castle. (Ajyproaches 
Bessie). Have your own way, dear — make him do whatever you 
want — both before and after marriage. 

Mr. G. {sits). Women generally do that, and of course that 
was what Bessie was doing. 

Bessie. I was only trying to have him get me something, and 
he won't. 

Mrs. D. Refusing so early ? 

Fred. Not refusing — but trying to keep her from injuring 
herself. 

Mrs. Z>. That is the way all you men talk ; you treat us as if 
we were infants. {To Bessie.) Have your own way, dear, what- 
ever it is. 

Mr. (J. What's all this about — not quarreling I hope. 



14 THK (iOI-l) MINK. 

Fred. "No, indeed — were Ave, Bessie. 

Bessie. Quarreling ! what an idea ! I wanted Fred to buy that 
beautiful place I saw last night for us to live in. Fred says we 
can't afford it— that we haven't money enough. Oh ! Why 
haven't we money enough V 

Mrs. I). A great many })eoi)le in the world are asking the 
same question, dear. 

Bessie {vexed.) Surely you do not. Gaurdy tliere {Pointing 
toioards Mr. Covert) said you was the greatest business woman he 
ever met ; that you had made more than one hundred thousand 
dollars in — in what did you call it, Gaurdy ? 

Mr. (J. In mining stocks, dear. 

Bessie. Yes, in mining stocks, since you have been here, and 
that is not two months. 

Mrs. D. Gaurdy should not tell tales out of school. 

Bessie. And if you did, who are a woman — why can't Fred 
do it, who is a man ; and smarter than any woman ? 

Mrs. D. Very true, my dear. 

Fred. Bessie, you don't know anything about such things. 

Mr. C. If you ladies will retire Fred and I will see if we can- 
not devise some way for him to make money enough to buy that 
place for Bessie, and perhaps a little over. 

Bessie [goes tip behind Mr. C, throwiug her arms arontid his 
neck.) That's a dear good Gaurdy. 

3Irs. D. Come, Bessie, let us take a stroll and leave business 
to these gentlemen ; they have longer heads than us. 

Bessie. Don't be long, Fred. 

\^Exit Bessie and Mrs. Desjiond. 

3fr. C Come, come. Don't let this put you out so. 

Fred. But she is worse than a child. The idea to buy sucb a 
house as that — where would I get the money ? 

Mr. C. Go to work and get the money like a man. 

Fred. How can I ? It is ridiculous to think of it. 

Mr. G. No, it is not. Look at Mrs. Desmond. As Bessie told 
you, she has made over a hundred thousand dollars with mining 
stocks in two months. 

Fred. You mean somebody else did it for her. 



THE GOLD MINE. 16 

3Ir. C. Well, certainly, I had something to do with it. 

Fred. I thought so — you mean, it was you that did it for her. 

j\lr. ( '. No, I only showed her what to do. She took my ad- 
vice, she happened to be very fortunate. She had the ready 
money and took advantage of an unusual condition of the mar. 
ket — one that may not occur again in fifty years. 

Fred. I ^nsh I had the same chance. 

J/r. C You cannot have the same, but I'll tell you one that 
looks as good. 

Fred. What is it? 

Mr. C You and Bessie are both of age. While I was your 
guardian I took good care of the property. You will do me 
the justice to say that when you both became of age I turned over 
to each of you more money than your uncle had left. This I did 
by wise investments, by which I not only paid for your support 
and education, but gave you both many expensive advantages. 

Fred. Bessie and I, sir, are much indebted to you for the care 
you have taken of our property. 

Mr. C. I did only my duty, and what I do every day for our 
customers at the bank. But you are not children now. I have 
nothing more to do witli your money, nor do I wish to advise you 
what to do with it. 

Fred. I wish you would advise me about what we were speak- 
ing. 

Mr. C. I have no advice to give; but I will show you a busi- 
ness transaction, which you, as a business man, can consider or not 
as you choose. 

FVed. 1 shall be glad, sir, to hear it. What is it ? 

Mr. C. We are not talking as friends now — if I tell you, and 
after considering it, you accept, I will expect to share in the profits. 

Fred. Let me hear what it is and then I can decide. 

Mr. C. You are a civil engineer and well posted in metallurgy 
and that kind of thing, 

I'red. It's true, I may say, that I am well up in the books, and 
have attended lectures in that line. I stood very well in my 
(tlass when I graduated in the School of Mines. I have a diploma 
from a college that stands high everywhere, but you must recol- 
lect, sir, that I have had no practical experience, though, of course 
I know more than mere workers. 



16 THK GOLD MINK. 

J/r. C. Of couse you do, and because you do that is why I am 
going to lay tliis matter before you. I have lieard of a mining 
property which is said to be very rich; it may be a bonanza, or a 
lot of old rocks; T don't know, but they say there is a great lot of 
gold in it. There are now four different claims to it, making four 
mines, but if I touched it at all it seems it would be better to get the 
whole track and work it in one interest. I understand the whole 
property can be bought for about two hundred thousand dollars. 

Fred. That's fifty thousand more than Bessie and I have. 

Mr. (J. Well, if you bought it, and it was all satisfactory, I 
would let you have fifty thousand dollars, provided that if you 
sold the stock, say fifty per cent, above par, you would give me a 
share of the advance above fifty 

Fred. Of the stock, sir "i 

Mr. V. Yes ; if you owned the property you could form a 
mining company with a capital of say one million of dollars, divi- 
ded into shares of one hundred dollars each ; you could be presi- 
dent of the company, keep its direction in your own hands, 
make a market for the stock — enormous fortunes have been 
made that way; great mines and large quantities of gold obtained 
from them, and if some men have done it why shouldn't you ? 

Ired. I'm afraid, sir, you think too highly of me and my abili- 
ties. • 

Mr. C. Not a bit of it. I am willing to trust fifty thousand 
dollars of my money upon that head of youi's, if it is young. Do 
you suppose I sent you to college to learn no more, and to know 
no more about mining than a man can find out in a red shirt with 
a pickaxe ? 

''Fred. Well, sir, I can say I studied liard; I ought to know 
something al)out oi-es. 

Mr. C Now, if you will go out there and examine the prop- 
erty yourself, keep your own counsel (as I know you will), then, 
if after seeing \t you want to l)uy it, and if you can get it for two 
hundr(>d thousand dollars I will let you have fifty thousan<l to 
complete the purchase on the terms I have mentioned. 

/ies'file {putt i It (J her head in the door). Come, Fred, you are 
so long. 

FVed. In a minute, dear. 



THE GOLD MINK. 17 

Bessie. Oh ! come. 

Mr. C. {going). You can think of what I said, because if 
you don't want to go I know who does. 
Fred. I will, sir, and let you know. 

Bessie enters^ going toniards Mr. C. 

Bessie. Go where, Guardy ? 

Mr. C. Shall I tell her ? 

Fred. Perhaps it would be well. 

3Ir. G. To buy a gold mine, dear. ' 

Bessie {dapping her hands). Go, Fred — go — go — go — say yes, 
quick — quick. Then come with me ; I want to sho\v you the 
dearest little puppy. 

Mr.C. (aside). I wonder which is the biggest puppy, the little 
one outside or that big conceited one inside. 

Fred. I will give you an answer, sir, in an hour. 

Mr. C. I am going to the city. I'll come back here before I 
go ; you can tell me then. \^E,nt Mr. C. 

Fred. Bessie, come and sit down, I want to talk seriously to 
you. 

Bessie. Don't talk seriously to me — I hate it ; our pastor does 
that every time he comes here. Please don't talk seriously to me, 
Fred. 

Fred. But I must. 

Bessie [pxdling him towards c. d.) C'ome and seethe puppy ; 
he is the cutest little puppy you ever saw. 

F-ed. Bessie, you must talk to me or I can't buy that place 
you want. 

Bessie. Don't talk and look like that or you will make me 

Fred (putting his arm around her waist). My little wife 
knows I would not make her cry for anything in the world. 

Bessie {looking in his face, half crying). Then don't be so 
cross. 

Fred. 1 am not cross, dear, I am only serious. 

Bessie. That's as bad as cross. 

Fred. Won't you let me talk to you, darling. 

Bessie. Come and see the puppy first. 



18 THE G01J> MINE. 

Fred. Never mind the puppy. Sit down on the sofa for an 
instant and listen to me, darling. 

Bessie {sits beside him). You won't be long? 

Fred. Not very long. 

Bessie (jumps icjy, runs quickly to table, rings, returns quickly 
and sits beside him). Now, dear, what is it? 

F¥ed. I want to talk to you and get your serious opinion about 
a most important matter, (Enter Bob, unseen by Fred. Bessie 
stecdthlly beckons him to come closer to her ; Boh coming closer ; 
Bessie still beckoning ; Bob holding his ear doton to her ; Bessie 
tchisjMrs to him ; exit Bob / all this unperceived by Fred, who 
continues talking to Bessie). Mr. Covert has made to me a busi- 
ness proposition. He knows of a most valuable mining property 
— in fact four gold mines, which he thinks can be bought for 
about two hundred thousand dollars. He says that if I will go 
and examine it myself he will be governed by my opinion as a 
civil engineer and metallurgist. And if I buy it he will advance 
me fifty thousand dollars so that I can buy the property if I ap- 
prove after examination. 

Bessie. Would you own the gold mine then ? 

Fred. Four of them. 

Bessie {clapping her hand.^). Buy them. Buy them. Buy 
them. 

Fh'ed. But it will take all your money and mine. 

Bessie. Take it. Take it. Take it and buy me one. 

Fred. But, dear, it will take all our money. 

Bessie. But, dear, we'll take all the gold out of the mine and 
buy the place I want, and the furniture, and you shall Have " an 
income of a prince " {patting his cheeks), so you shall, you dear 
little prince, out of my gold mine. 

Fred. But, Bessie darling {Fnter Bob, folloioed by a 

Ragged Urchin, inith puppy in his arms ; Bessie Jwm^:>5 up, runs 
to the Boy and snatches ptc2)py fro^nhim, caressing it tenderly.) 
( Vexatiously) . Now what is a man to do with such a girl as that. 
Bessie, put down thai puppy and come here. Bob, I'll break 
your neck. Bessie, come here. 

Bessie. No, I won't now {halt' crying. Fxits petting the puppy, 
folloioed by Boy and Bob), 



THE GOLD MINE. 19 

Fred. I can't get angry with her, she has such confidence in ray 
judgment. Well, she ought — when as cool-headed and clear-sighted 
a man as Mr. Covert is willing to risk fifty thousand dollars on it; 
I was too hasty with her; I made her cry; I ought to know better 
than to speak to a woman about business; their heads were not 
intended for serious matters; men were made to think and act for 
them; I am sorry I vexed her. 

Enter Bessie witJt the pappy in her arms. 

Bessie. Are you cross yet ? 

Fred goes up to her, 2iutting his arm around her loaist, Bessie 
leans her head on his shovlder. 

F)'ed. I am not cross dear, but I have such weighty matters to 
consider. 

Bessie. Isn't he a little darling y I l)ought him. 

FS'ed. Oh! confound the pup. 

Bessie. Don't talk that way to dear little Jumbo. 

Fred. I am going to look at the gold mine. 

Bessie {^jumping toith joy). Oh! oh! oh! I am so glad. 

Fred. But I'll be gone a long time. 

Bessie [half sadly). How long? 

Fred. I don't know; gold mines are a long way from here — 
and the engineer requires time for careful examination. 

Bessie. But you will liurry back to buy the place after you 
buy the gold mine. 

Fred. You may be sure I will not stay longer from my Bessie 
than necessary. Shall I go, dear? 

Bessie. Can't you get the gold mine any other way ? 

Fred. No, dear. 

Bessie. Then go to-night and buy it. 

Enter Mr. Covert and Mrs. Desmond. 

Mrs. D. Go where V Buy what ? 
Bessie. To buy a gold mine. 

Mr. C To examine a mining property as a civil engineer and 
metallurgist. 



20 THE GOLP MINE. 

Mm. D. And what then ? 

Ired. And if I approve of tha property— to buy it, madam. 
Bessie. Yes, and I have given him all ray money to buy a gold 
mine for me {Petting Jumbo.) 

Enter Bob and Kitty. 

All acting and speaking together. 

' Fred. Gejiter. 
Bessie, r. of Fred. 
Mrs. Desmond, l. of Fred. 
Mr. Covert. A little in front of Feed's left. 
Bob. r. front. 
Kitty pulli7ig Bob. 

Fred {arm. raised grandly). To buy a gold mine. 

Bessie. To buy me a gold mine. 

Mr. Covert. I will trust in his judgment. 

Mrs. D. (in astonishment). A gold mine! 

Bob. A gold mine! hurrah! hurrah! 

Kitty. Hush you fool! 

End Act II. 



Stage positions. < 



ACT III. 

Scene I — The same Parlor. 

Enter Bob in a terrible rage. 

Bob {furiously). If I wasn't a Christian, I'd curse him; if I 
wasn't a servant, I'd bung his eyes; if I had my wages, I'd walk 
right out this minute; I'll pack my things and go right off, that I 
will {stops). No, I can't afford that until my month is up {strik- 
ing his breast). Wait till I get my month's wages, then {tragically) 
I'll have my revenge. 

Enter Kitty. 

Kitty. Hoity-toity — hoity-toity — what is the matter with you ? 
Bob. Away, false woman, away! 



THK GOLD MINE. 21 

Kitty. Who are you talking to ? 

Boh (mocking her). "Somebody I won't tell is ten." I heard 
him, the old reprobate. 

Kitty. Who ? 

Bob. The master and you. Don't deny it, woman. I heard 
you and him on the stairs, on the steps (furiously). Heard him 
say, " Kitty you are a pretty girl, a very pretty girl Kitty (puU- 
i?ig his hair). 

Kitty. Can I help being pretty ? Can I help master seeing 
I'm pretty because you don't '? 

Bob. I wish he was stone blind ; wait till I get my wages for 
this month and I'll fix his eyes so he won't see, if I'm turned out 
of church for it. 

Kitty. Turned out of church ! turned in the jail yard for it or 
pay ten dollars. 

Bob. Pay ten dollars ! almost a month's wages for thrashing 
him ? I can't afford that, 

Kitty. No, nor I can't afford to lose you. (Coquettishly, 
coaxingly.) Now, Bob, how could I help it ? 

Bob. But he tried to kiss you. 

Kitty. But I didn't let him (patting his cheek) ; but if some- 
body is gOod and nice (Bob smiling), and is a good little boy 
and don't make a fool of himself (Bob grins), there is no telling 
but I (Bob smiling, Kitty runs away, gets to the door, turns, 
makes faces at him) might if he wasn't such a donkey and didn't 
bray so loud. {Exit Kitty. 

Bob. I a donkey — may be I am — she ought to know ; she 
knows everything. If ever I get a chance at master I'll kick him 
so hard he'll think a donkey let him have it in his bread-basket 
with both feet ; and if ever I get a chance at her 

Kitty ptits her head in c. 

Kitty. Bob, I was only teasing you (Bob smiling) ; that was 
all. 

Bob. Was that all ? 

Kitty. Come and be friends. 

Bob. Come in, Kitty. 



22 THE GOLD MIHE. 

Kitty. Will you be good ? 

Boh. Yes. 

Kitty. Very good? 

Boh. I'll do anything you tell me. 

Kitty. Then don't make a fool of yowvseM {laughs). 

[JExif Kitty. 
Boh. Isn't that nice treatment for an injured man ? 

Enter Mrs. Desmond. 

Mrs. J). It is two months since Fred went to " buy a gold 
mine," as Bessie says. I have not been idle in that time ; I have 
been patient. You have been very close lately, Mr. Covert ; the 
partnership is dissolved between you and me, Mr. Covert, the 
senior member having gone into business for himself. We will 
see if the junior member cannot do a little business for herself ; 
very likely she can — time will tell, Mr. Covert. You are not 
quite covert enough for me, Mr. Covert, or T am very much mis- 
taken. 

Bessie enters rapidly and very angry, with an open letter i7i her 

Jiand. 

Bessie. Where is Guardy ? I want to see him this very minute. 

Mrs. D. What is the matter, dear; what has excited you so ? 

Bessie. To write me such a letter as that ! to talk about my 
friends that way — the mischief-making slanderer! Where's 
Guardy; I must see him '? 

Mrs. B. Tell me what it is, dear. 

Bessie. No, I can't ; I can't, I can't ; I want to see Guardy. 

Mrs. D. [aside.) There must be something very serious in 
this ; I never saw her show such temper as that. 

Kilter Mr. Covert. 

Bessie {excitedly). Guardy, I want to see you this minute. 
Mrs. J). Why, what is the matter ? 

Bessie. Come right straight to the library; I want to show you 
something. 



THE GOLD MINE, 23 

Mrs. D. Don't move ; I am going to my own i-oom. [Aside.) 
I will listen to this ; something must be the matter. \_Exit- 

Bessie {hands Mr. G. an open note. Sits tapping the floor with 
her foot nervously and e^'cited). Gnardy, read that note of Lucille 
Lighthead ; I just now got it. 

Mr. C. {reads deliberately). Silly stuff — pshaw ! — nonsense 
{hands it hack to her) ; take no notice of it ; that amounts to 
nothing. 

(Mrs. Desmond looks in l. c. Stands listening unseen by them.) 

Bessie {rises, very angry). "Take no notice of it ; amounts to 
nothing ? " when this girl writes me a note, telling rae that I 
ought to know what your bank clerk, Simpkins told her 

Mr. (J. Simpkins is a fool. 

Bessie. Fool or no fool, he told her that you boasted of being 
a lover of Mrs. Desmond's, at a supper where there were twenty 
gentlemen ; and, as she says in her note, " where there was 
more champagne than good manners." P. S., " Don't say 
anything to him about it, for he was drunk, so Simpkins says," 
How here is the sting. {Reads.) " But I thought it best to tell 
you, dear, what kind of a lady is visiting your ' Gaurdy ' — your 
immaculate ' Gaurdy.' " {Thrones doimi the letter, stamps on it.) 
You horrid thing ! 

Mr. C. Bessie, say nothing about it ; let it die out ; you will 
make it worse by noticing it. 

Bessie. Am I to let that girl drive round the country with 
such a tale as this and injure you and Mrs Desmond V 

Mr. C. Never mind me. When you are as old as I am, you'll 
know that such things never injure men ; those who hear it (if 
they believe it) may envy me, that's all ; and, of course, you 
know, that, as far as Mrs. Desmond is concerned, it is a lie. 

Bessie. I don't want anyone to tell me it is a lie ; I know it is 
a lie, and, because it is a lie, I am not going to let that girl injure 
Mrs. Desmond. If I have to walk two miles to Lucille's house 
and then round the country to all our acquaintances, I will stop 
this wicked lie and let Lucille know what I think of her and that 
horrid Simpkins. 

Mr. C, Let Mrs. Desmond's affairs alone ; let her attend to 



24 THE GOLD MINE. 

her character herself ; you will injure ^ours by going to Miss 
Lighthead, and very much by going to others. 

Bessie. Injure my character '? 

Mr. C. Yes it would— a young girl, talking on such subjects 
round the country. It would io you such injury that it might 
be the cause of breaking off your marriage with Fred. 

Bessie. If I thought that Fred would stand by and not horse- 
whip the man who would repeat such a lie as that of dear Mrs. 
Desmond, I would call him a coward, and, instead of loving him 
as I do now, I would hate him. ( Goes to table. Rings.) 

Mtter Bob. 

Bessie. Order the carriage ; tell them I want it quick. 

[Exit Bob, 

Mr. C. You are not going to Lucille's, surely ? 

Bessie. Yes, I am ; and if I find that she has been visiting any- 
where or speaking to anyone about what she writes here, I am 
going to follow her steps, and pull out each lying nail that she 
has drove in, if I have to spend from now to Christmas to do it. 

Mr. (J. You shall not go. 

Bessie. I will go ! I am not a child, now ! 

Mr. G. I cannot control you, but I can my own servants and 
horses — you shall not have the carriage. 

Bessie. You can keep your carriage ; I will ride my little old 
pony. If he is old, he can carry me to Mrs. Dupre's, and I know 
she will lend me her carriage. There ! and I don't love you any 
more, and I never will again, and when Fred comes home I will 
walk right out of this house, and don't you ever speak to me again, 
sir. I am going to give Lucille a piece of my mind, and when 
Fred comes home I'll tell him what I think of you. 

Mr. G. This is the gratitude I receive from the child I raised. 

Bessie. If I had known what, kind of a man you were, as I 
know now, you should never have raised me (as you call it). All 
you ever did for me you were paid for ; you neither " raised me " 
for love, or for nothing — you " raised me " for money — you were 
well paid for it ; I owe you nothing ; you never gave me any- 
thing more than you were paid for — house and food. 



THE GOLD MINE. 25 

Mr. C. Bessie, you will be sorry for this. But if you will go 
take the can'iage. 

Enter Bob. 
Boh. The carriage is waiting miss. 

(Bessie feels in her pocket, gets out her jpxirse — angrily takes a 
note ,' throios it at him.) 

Bessie. There's ten dollars for the hire of your carriage for 
the clay. {Ts, going out furiously ; gets near the door.) Bob! 
put Jumbo in the carriage. \^E.x'it, followed by Bob. 

Mr., C. {picking up note Bessie threic down). The devil's to 
pay, certain. Who would suppose she had such a temper ? What 
is Mrs. Desmond to her ? I don't remember saying it ; but I sup- 
pose I did — for I was di-unk ; I recollect they were all boasting 
about women, so I suppose I boasted as big a lie as any of them ; I 
wish to heavens it was true. But to talk love to her — she wants mar- 
riage and five hundred thousand dollars, before she will listen. Oh! 
confound the women, they are always playing the mischief. The 
only thing that saves me is that Bessie won't tell Mrs. Desmond, 
and if she did, what then ? Mrs. Desmond would leave the house 
— that w^ould suit me exactly, because if she stays she might break 
up the sale of the gold mine, or I would have to pay her well to 
keep her still. It is only country gossip as long as she does not 
know it ; and after the gold mine is sold, I don't care whether she 
knows it or not. {Exit Mr. C. 

Enter Mus. Desmond. 

Mrs. B. {lookhig after him.) That thing lives ! I will make him 
recollect the woman he has slandered. Those who heard his foul 
mouth use my name shall witness part of my revenge. And you, 
my brave, true girl, now riding round to stay his vile utterances 
from being carried by envy and by gossip, shall be saved from his 
avarice if I have the power to save you. 

Enter Bob. 

Mrs. D. Bob, what is the matter between you and Kitty ? 
Boh. I don't know, ma'am ; Kitty don't like me. 



26 THE GOLD MINE. 

Mrs. D. Yes, she does ; and because I think her happiness is 
involved, I sent for you. I wish I had a house of ray own, and 
if you and Kitty were married you both could live with me. I 
was thinking of keeping house, but you are so attached to Mr. 
Covert that I suppose you would not care to go with me. 

Boh. If it wasn't for not seeing Kitty, I'd go when my month 
is up. I hate the sight of him, and if it wasn't that 'twould cost 
me ten dollars I'd beat the life out of him, and if ever I get a 
chance at him 

Mrs. D. Oh ! Nonsense. 

Bob. It ain't no nonsense. I have my reasons, ma'am, and if I 
wasn't a Christian I'd curse him till he would stand up to his 
knees in the oaths I'd pile round him. 

Mrs. D. What has he been doing to you ? Tell me ; I will be 
your friend. I want to see you and Kitty married, for I believe 
she is attached to you. What has come between you and her ? 

Bob. If I tell you will you breathe it ? 

Mrs. D. Of couTse not. 

Bob. Master has been making love to her ; tried to kiss her ; I 
saw him — I'll, I'll, I'll one of those days 

Mrs. D. But Kitty couldn't help that, she has been very in- 
dignant because he treated her scandalously. 

Bob. If I had my wages paid, I'd show him what it is to try 
to kiss her. 

Mrs. D. How much will he owe you at the end of the month ? 

Bob. Eighteen dollars, ma'am. 

3Irs. Z>. If that was paid now could I hire you for twenty 
dollars ? 

Bob. This minute, and glad to go. 

Mrs. D. {Takes out her pxirse)^ There is twenty dollars to 
pay you your wages, I give you the balance. 

Bob. Hire me right now, right now, ma'am ? 

Mrs. D. I would, but I would not like it known while T am in 
Mr. Covert's house. 

■Bob. May I die if any one shall know it ! 

Mrs. D. Not even Kitty ? 

Bob. No — I'll be turned out of church before I'll tell it. 

Mrs. D. Well, rather than lose you, I'd give you twenty-five 
dollars a month and a month's wages in advance. 



THE GOLD MINE. 27 

Bob. Twenty-five dollars — and a month in advance ? 

Mrs. D. If you obey me implicitly. 

Boh. I'll stick to you closer — oh ! beg your pardon, ma'am, 
that's what Master Fred said. 

Mrs.D. {Lcmc/hin</.) Well, as Master Fred says — you will 
what? 

Boh. Stick by you, ma'am. 

3frs. I), {laughing). Will you " stick by me," then ? 

Boh. May I be turned out of church if I don't stick to you so 
close that a four-mule team could not pull me away. 

Mrs. D. {handing him money). There — you are my servant 
from this minute. 

Bob. I'm stuck by the month. 

Mrs. D. Be silent. Now go. 

Bob. Mute — be turned out of church first. \^Exit. 

Enter Mr. Covert, holding a ma,p rolled up and a deed tied 

with red tape. 

Mrs. D. Busy, as usual ; you look fresh as the racer the morn- 
ing after he has beat the field. 

Mr. (J. And you look like a girl, but so much more beautiful. 

Mrs. D. Oh ! how you can flatter — no wonder you succeed 
when your manners are as agreeable as your intellect is gigantic. 

Mr. C. Who is flattering now, siren V 

Mrs. D. I have been speaking as truthfully about what pleases 
me as I am now about to speak of what is not agreeable. 

Mr. (J. If I can remove the unpleasantness you have only to 
mention it. 

Mrs. I). I hope you will. 

Mr. C. What is it ? 

Mrs. D. Only that the association has not declared a dividend 
lately. The partnership was of your own seeking. I have been 
treated lately as if it was dissolved. 

Mr. C. How can you talk thus ? 

Mrs. I). Because it is true. 

3fr. C. I have done nothing snice you had the last fifty thous- 
and. I think a lady ought not to complain who has made in cash 
over two hundred thousand dollars in about two months. 



28 THE GOLD MINE. 

Mrs. D. I am not complaining. I only want to know if the 
association is ended or not? 

Mr. C. Why of course it is not ; you are now, as then, the 
same to me, and I hope ever will be ; it is your own fault, 
charmer, if not closer. 

Mrs. D. You said then : "From this time out we are one — 
one in object, one in plans, one in interest." 

Mr. C. I did — and we are. 

Mi's. J). How about the gold mine V 

Mr. (7. Oh ! that I have nothing to do with, except to loan 
Fred fifty thousand dollars to buy it (if he wishes, after examin- 
ing it himself.) If you want to loan him the money, you are per- 
fectly welcome. I do not make a cent by that operation. I loan 
fifty thousand dollars on his judgment as a civil engineer, and be- 
cause T want to help him. 

Mrs. D. And you get nothing for it V 

Mr. C. Yes, if the stock goes over fifty above par, and you 
know it never will, so you see I only said that as an excuse to 
help the young fellow without his feeling under any obligations 
to me. 

Mrs. IJ. And you do not make any money by the trans- 
action '{ 

Mr. C. Not a dollar, on my honor. 

3Irs. D. On your honor ? 

Mr. G. On my faith and honor. 

Mrs. D. Who is John L. Simpkins ? 

3Ir. C. Who? 

Mrs. D. John L. Simpkins is your dummy — one of your bank 
clerks — the charming young man who you always keep at your 
elbow, but never bring here ; who signs any papers you tell him, 
because all he has is his clerkship and that you can end in a mo- 
ment ; in short, your puppet. This gold mine is in his name. 

Mr. C. How do you know that ? 

Mrs. D. I have had the records searched. Would you like to 
see the copies ? 

Mr. (J. What a woman ? 

Mrs. D. You are Simpkins. You sell the mine and get the 
money. Simpkins signs the papers. This is what you will make : 



THE GOLD MINE. 29 

You sell the gold mine to Fred for $190,000. He pays you 
$140,000 cash, and gives you his note and a mortgage for $50,000 
due in ninety days. At the end of that time the mortgage will 
not be paid ; Simpkins forecloses, sells the property, and buys it 
all back for $25,000 ; account will then close thus : Fred will 
have paid you $140,000 cash, and will owe you $25,000, for which 
he will be your slave for the rest of his life — for owning a gold 
mine 90 days — while you will get $140,000 and own the whole 
property, and have him owing you $25,000 for letting him be the 
paper owner of a gold mine for ninety days. Beggary and ruin 
for Bessie and Fred — and a financial success for you. 

Mr. C. Well, if it was, what then ? You won't begrudge me 
making the money, will you '? 

3Irs. D. You never shall unless you pay me seventy thousand 
dollars — half — and cheap at that; one object — one plan, &c. 
Trying to deceive a poor women like me {laughing) . . Oh ! you 
men — you men. 

Mr. C. I suppose I must. 

Mrs. JJ. You must. 

Mr. C. I will give you the money after he pays me the 
$140,000. 

Mrs. D. No, sir; you deceived me once; you shall not do it 
twice. I want the money this very morning, or I will blow the 
whole gold mine, if I go with the explosion. 

Mr. C. I haven't got the money. 

Mrs. D. Borrow it. 

Mr. (J. I cannot unless you will wait until to-morrow. 

Mrs. D. I give you one hour to give me that money, or up 
goes the mine. 

Mr. C I tell you 1 have not got it. 

Mrs. IJ. You have property. What do you value this house 
and everything you have in it at ? 

Mr. C. Everything ? 

Mrs. D. Yes, everything. 

Mr. C. Are you serious? 

Mrs. IJ. Yes. 

Mr. (J. You shall have house, grounds, horses, carriages; 
everything, big and little ; yes, and the clothes I wear. 



30 THK (iOLD MINK. 

Mrs. D. {laughing). Those on your liack ? 

Mr. C. Yes [laughing)^ and those on ray back, for one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars. 

Mrs. D. And if I give it to you, will you tell me all about the 
gold mine V 

Mr. G. Yes, everything, as clear as the sale. 

Mrs D. As minute as the sale ? 

Mr. C. Yes. 

Mrs. D. It is a trade. I want the deeds in an hour. Your 
money is ready. Now mark me, do not leave out even a pin, or 
I blow the mine, as I am a woman. 

Mr. G. Agreed. I'll go to a lawyer and have that deed made. 
I'll be back with it in an hour. [Starts to go.) 

Mrs. D. Wait; tell me all about the gold mine before you go. 

Mr. T). [opens the map and parchynent ; pohits to a place on 
the map). You see that point marked CASEY'S MOUND. I 
am going to sell him four mining claims there. This deed says, 
" commencing at a point known as "Casey's Mound." This deed 
gives him land and mines, commencing and ending at Casey's 
Mound. There never was a cent's worth of gold within two hun- 
dred miles of Casey's Mound. 

Mrs. D. But he says he saw the gold mine himself, and surely 
he knows gold when he sees it. 

3Ir. G. Yes, he did see the mines ; no wonder he said they 
were magnificent. Thoy are worth this day four millions of dollars, 
and by expending a hundred thousand dollars or so in working 
them, so as to commence obtaining the gold, six millions of dol- 
lars could be obtained for them. When I have shown how rich a 
mine it is I can readily sell it for six millions of dollars. Now, 
this rich mine commences at this other point. [Shows her a place 
on the maj).) That is called CASEY'S That is where I sent Fred. 
That is where the gold mines are ; CASEY'S MOUND is where 
the rocks are. Now don't you see, leave the word mound out of 
this deed, and the gold mine is sold; put the word mound in, and 
instead of gold you are getting rocks [laitghs). 

Mrs. I), joins hi the langhtcr. 

Mrs.l). Splendid ! So you are giving Fred and Bessie, by 
this deed, rocks instead of gold, and that little word mound is 
what makes the difference. What a brain — what a brain ! 



THE GOLD MINE. 31 

Mr. C I am selling rocks pretty well, am I not ? 
3Irs. I). NoAv go, and bring me the deed of this property — in 
an hour, mark. 

Mr. C. [going). I will be back with it by then 

3frs. D. But no Casey's Mound., Mr. Covert {both laugh). 

Mr. Covert returtis. 

Mr. C. I will tell you a secret. Fred will be here to-night 
on the nine o'clock train. Sirnpkins is to be here to deliver him 
tlie deed to the gold mine, and get his money for the rocks 
[laughing). We will close this transaction to-night. Bessie 
might break it up in the morning. 

Mrs. D. Let Bessie give a reception to-night. Bring your 
friends from the city to welcome Fred home. Let the delivery 
of the deeds be made before the guests. This will keep Bessie 
busy and fill that idiotic Fred full of his own importance, 

Mr. G. Excellent — excellent. Arrange for the reception with 
Bessie; that is a grand idea of yours; I will do my part, and have 
Simpkins so disguised that no one will know him, I'm going for 
your deeds now, \^Exit Mr. C. 

Enter Bessie. 

Mrs. D. Come and kiss me. Where have you been all the 
morning ? 

JBessie [kissing her). Only to air myself and Jumbo, and to 
call on Lucille. 

Mrs. D. Is she to be one of the bridesmaids ? 

Bessie. Indeed she's not. She and me had a quarrel ; but it's 
all i-ight now. 

Mrs. D. Have you been anywhere else V 

Bessie. No, I found it was not necessary; I did what I went 
for and came back. 

Mrs. IJ. Young ladies going to be married have always their 
little mysteries, so my dear I won't talk of that ; but I am very 
glad you have come back early, because I have good news for 
you. 

Bessie. What is it ? What is it ? Tell me. Tell me. 



32 THE GOLD MINE. 

Mrs. D. Fred will be home to-night. 

Bessie. Oh ! T am so glad. Let's drive to the depot and meet 
him. 

Jfrs. D. 'rhe train does not arrive until nine to-night, dear. 

Bessie. Oh ! why don't it come now ? Let me see what o'clock 
it is. 

Mrs. D. Sit down, dear. 

Bessie. How can I ? I want nine o'clock to come. 

Mrs. D. I want you to give a reception to-night to welcome 
Fred. Take the carriage and drive round ; ask your friends to 
be sure to come, that you want to give Fred a surprise, 

Bessie. Oh ! won't that be delightful. I'll go this minute. 
Won't we surprise Fred. What shall I wear ? I believe I'll wear 
that dress that Fred likes so much. 

Mrs. D. Be sure to ask Lucille Lighthead. 

Bessie. I don't want her. 

Mrs. D. Please ask her, dear, to oblige me. 

Bessie. Well, I suppose I must. (Rings.) 

Enter Bob. 

Bessie. Tell them not to put up the carriage I want it at once; 
{Mcit Bob.) [Kisses Mrs. Desmond.) You're the sweetest darling. 
Give all the orders. Won't we have fun? (Kisses her again.) 
I will drive round and see everybody, and hurry back. 

l^Exit Bessie, rapidly. 

Mrs. JJ. rings. Enter Bob. 

Bob. Ma'am ? 

Mrs. D. Do you see that inkstand ? 

Bob. The one on the table, ma'am? 

Mrs. D. Yes ! If you see that inkstand on a paper as a weight, 
and I tell you to look for Miss Bessie's visiting book, you will spill 
the ink on the paper. 

Bob. Capsize the inkstand on the paper, ma'am ? Spoil the 
cloth ? 

Mrs. 1). Will you do what 1 order ? 

Bob. Yes, ma'am, if I am turned out of church for it. Yes, 
ma'am. 



THE GOLD MINE. 33 

Mrs. D. Then see you do it. Go! 

Boh {aside). What an eye ! {going) May I be turned out of 
church if [^Exit Bob. 

Enter Mr. Covert, holding two deeds. 

Mr. C. You see I am here inside the hour. Here is the deed, 
give me the money, and this house and grounds, with everything 
in it, clothes and all, is yours. 

Mrs. D. Let me see that paper. 

Mr.C. {hands it to her). It's all right; there is no Casey's 
Moimd in that. 

3Irs. D. {reading it to herself). I see it is all right; will you 
take my check ? 

3Ir. C. Certainly. {Takes out a check-hook, hands it to her.) 
You have an account with that bank, I believe. 

Mrs. D. Yes, I have enough there to pay this. {Filling np 
the check, signs it, teai's it out. Hands him the check-book, holding 
the check.) I am to give you one hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
lars for the property. You owe me seventy thousand as my share 
of the sale of the gold mine. Here is my check for eighty thou- 
sand dollars. Give me the deed. 

3fr. C. There's the deed; the property is yours. 

Mrs. D. {receives the deed and hands hitn the check.) That 
closes this transaction. 

Mr. C, {langhing). Are you going to turn me out now? 

Mrs. D. {laughing). Not at jiresent ; you're too charming a 
visitor. {Puts the deed in her bosom. Rings.) Let me see the 
deed to the gold mine ; I never saw one. (Mr. C. opeyis it, spreads 
it out on the table ; Mrs. D. puts the inkstand on it to hold it 
doion while examining it. 

Enter ^o^. Still looking at the paper. {To Bob.) Look for 
Miss Bessie's visiting book. 

(Bob goes to the table, seems to he searching for the book ' spills the 
ink over the deed.) 

Mrs. D. Oh ! 

Mr. G. You infernal scoundrel; see what you have done! 
Get out of here, curse you. 



34 THE GOLD MINE. 

Boh {going ; aside). May I be turned out of church if I ever 
get a chance at you. [Mcit Bob. 

Mr. C. {furious). There's the sale of the gold' mine lost. 
What is to be done now? 

Mrs. D. Have a new one written. 

Mr. C. That paper could not be re-written in a day. -Bessie 
is angry with me ; I tell you if she gets ten minutes alone with 
Fred there will be such a fuss between me and them that this sale 
will never take place. That is why this deed has to be delivered 
to-night, and now that infernal scoundrel has ruined it all. ( Going 
up and down the stage distracted.) 

3Irs. D. It shall take place. Go to the city, have Simpkins 
here ready to sign it. Bring all your friends. I will have fifty 
printers {takes the blotted deed from the table) putting this in type, 
and have a printed deed here in time for the grand ceremonies at 
the reception. The sale shall be completed to-night if it costs me 
ten thousand dollars. Go do your part, I will do mine. 

Knter Bon. 

Bob. Master Fred has come. 
Mrs. D. What ! come ? 

Mr. (J. {aside). Why didn't the fool stay till night as I told 
him ? 

Enter Bessie, fallowed by Kit'iy. 

Bessie. Where's Fred V Where's Fred '? 

Enter Fred. 

Fred {runs to Bessie ; embraces her). Here, <larling. 
Mrs. Desmond. ~\ 

Mr. Covert. \ Welcome ! Welcome home ! 

Kitty. J 

Bob. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

Quick Curtain. 
End of Act IH. 



THE GOLD MINE. 35 



ACT IV. 

Scene I — TheDraioimj Hoom*. Mrs. Desmond discovered, sit- 
ting at a table. 

3Irs. D. Fred's arrival and the party have made Bessie so 
happy, it is not likely that she will tell P^'red to-night what took 
place between her and Mr. Covert. I naust have one-third interest 
in that gold mine {rings. Enter Bob). Where is Kitty ? 

Boh. Helping Bessie, ma'am. 

Mrs. D. Where is Master Fred ? 

Boh. Dressing, ma'am. 

Mrs. D. Arrange it so that he will come here without saying 
I sent for him, and do it at once. 

Boh. Yes, ma'am, (aside). That's easy; I'll tell liim Miss Bessie 
is dressed and down here, looking round, and nobody with her — 
may I be tui-ned out of church if that don't bring him. 

Jlrs. D. What are you waiting for ? Go, do what I ordered. 

Boh. [going; aside) What an eye — may I be turned out of 
church, but [^Exit Bob. 

3frs. D. I wish I had charge of that young man Fred, instead 
of making money for him (as I am compelled to do to save Bessie), 
I'd put him to work to earn his own living, sawing logs. He never 
would make a mechanic, and that's the man that a woman is to 
love, honor and obey. He is not fit to have charge of a goat, 
much less of a woman, and there are thousands like him in this 
very city. He was a fool before he went to college; all that col- 
lege did for him was to give him a diploma in latin, with a big 
red seal, and to turn him out on the world a stuflEf d idiot, when if 
he had been put to work on a farm he might have been some little 
use in raising potatoes, while my little Bessie is what she is for 
want of proper education, but time will eradicate the lightness of 
her training, and if she gets out of his hands, she will make a 
noble woman. But he is a nuisance. 

Enter Feed. 
Fred. I beg you pardon, I thought Bessie was here. 



80 THE GOLD MINE. 

3frs. D. You had better sit down, you will see her here sooner 
than anywhere else. You are a wonderful man, a wonderful 
worker to accomplish all you have, and return so soon. 

Fred. Well, you see, " knowledge is power." I know what to 
do, so I did it. Now the difficulty with most men is that they do 
not know what to do; that is why so few men accomplish much, 
and why women accomplish nothing of any importance; but they 
are not to blame for that; nature created them in her own labora- 
tory, beautiful, but weak, charming; but unfitted for knowledge. 

Mrs. D. How true that is; I always wanted to be a man; it 
must be the zenith of enjoyment to feel one's own powerful ma- 
chinery working within, turning out great thoughts. How could 
you do all you had to do so speedily ? 

Fred. I knew what to do; I am a man. 

Mrs. D. Nature's great man can make even a weak girl a lov- 
ing, trusting, obedient and noble woman; I have such faith in 
your power that I have no doubt but you by your manhood's 
vigorous brain and talents will make Bessie the model wife of the 
country. 

Fred. I shall endeavor to improve her. 

Mrs. D. How can she help to improve, when she will have 
such a husband '? 

Fred. You are very complimentary. 

Mrs. D. Have I not the right to say so, when I see what you 
have accomplished in two mouths — examined a gold mine, re- 
turned home, and now about to become its owner. Tell me, what 
is your opinion of the property ? 

Fred. Madam, that mining property that I am going to buy, I 
am clearly of the opinion will produce more gold to the ton than 
any mine in the West. 

Mrs. D. And this is your professional opinion V 

Fred. Undoubtedly so, madam, and in the language of my 
assistant engineer, Mr. Sylvester, it is a magniticeut property. 

Mrs. D. Will you let me have one-third interest with you and 
Bessie? I will give you the money now; I do not like the idea of 
your borrowing from a mere banker; he will afterwards take all 
the credit to himself that belongs to you. 

Fred. By jove! he never shall, madam. 



THE GOLD MINE. 37 

Mrs. D. You great geniuses are too apt to overlook the power 
of money; but you ought not to be under obligations to any one; 
pray let me give you this certified check for one-third of the pur- 
chase money; pay all and have no borrowing, and honor me by 
being connected in the pui'chase with such a distinguished gentle- 
man. 

Fred, {tnking tlie check). It shall be as you desire, madam; you 
can trust to my attending to your interest. 

Mrs. I). Many thanks; I feel better satisfied now; you can't 
think what a comfort it is for a woman to feel she can rely upon a 
great man. 

Fred. You can always rely on me, madam; I will have your 
name inserted in the deed with mine and Bessie's. 

Mrs. D. Bessie will be so unhappy without you; you had best 
stay and comfort her; I am going to the city; give me aline to 
the seller, directing him to insert my name in the deed, and in- 
forming him I have bought and paid for one-lhird of the property. 

Fred. With pleasure. ( Writes note ; closes it iit an envelo^ye ; 
addresses it; handing it to her.) You have got a great property, 
madam; which, while I live, I will see shall be successfully 
managed. 

3Irs. B. Oh! 1 would not have touched it if it had not been 
for you. [Exit Mrs. D. 

Enter Bessie. Feed goes to embrace her. 

Bessie [jjulling back). Don't touch me, you'll rumple my dress. 

Fred. So your dress is more precious to you than me. 

Bessie. Now don't be cross. 

Fred. And you call that love ? 

Bessie Call what love '? My dress ? 

F-ed. Miss Granger, when a lady becomes engaged, her every 
thought should be concentrated on the man who is to be her hus- 
band. 

Bessie. And isn't mine ? 

FVed. It does not seem to me that you have any thoughts this 
evening, except those you bestow on your dress. 

Bessie. Don't you want me to look nice ? 



38 THE GOLD MINE. 

Ft-ed. Of course I do, Miss Granger, and I desire that you al- 
ways pay a great deal of attention to your toilet; but you seem to 
forget, that you are dressing to please me, and not to please others. 

Bessie, I don't like you to speak to me that way; it isn't kind. 

Fred. It is necessary; I do not wish you to look on it as un- 
kindness, but as the result of your own deportment to me. 

Bessie. And because I wouldn't let you kiss me, and muss my 
dress, you treat me as if I had no right to move, or act, except as 
you please; you shan't kiss me this whole evening, now. 

Fred. Miss Granger, you forget what is due to me. 

Bessie. And you shan't dance with me either. 

Fred. You will do as I direct you. 

Bessie [angry). As you direct me, indeed! 

Fred. When you became engaged to me, you became my prop- 
erty. 

Bessie {very angry). Tlien I am not engaged to you, and I am 
no longer your property. 

Enter Bob. Stands at door. 

Bob. Mr. Sylvester. 

Enter Mk. Sylvester; walks toward Feed. 

Fred {they shake hands). Permit me to present you — Mr. 
Sylvester, my assistant engineer — Miss Granger. {TJiey both how. 

Mr. Sylv. I am afraid Miss Granger will deem me a country 
youth, coming at such an unfashionable hour. 

Bessie. I am so pleased to see you, Mr. Sylvester, that I wish 
you had come much earlier. 

F'ed. (Jealously ^ aside.) She is more polite to him than 
to me. 

3Ir. Sylv. You are very kind, but the truth is. Miss Granger, 
that my life has not been spent in halls of fashion — if it had 
been I would have had at least an easier time — miners and 
mines, woodsmen and woods, prairies and frontiersmen have been 
my companions and my homes. If, then, I sin against fashionable 
etiquette, Miss Granger, I hope will overlook it, I promising to try 
and not do so again. 

Bessie. Mr. Sylvester I think will rather have to pardon me, 



THE GOLD MINE. 30 

for I am continually breaking the rules that fashion has pre- 
scribed. 

Fred, {aside.) Listen to that ! Oh ! these women, these women ! 

Mr. Sylv. If I was Fashion, 1 would change my rules to please 
Miss Granger ; I should be her subject. 

Fred, {aside.) The impudent 

Bessie (liviighing.) I would be very capricious, I'm afraid. 

Mr. Sylv. {to Fred.) Who wouldn't be the subject of such a 
queen ? 

Fred. Queens — nonsense ! 

Mr. Sylv. Look at England's queen ; she rules and her subjects 
are made happy by her rule. 

Bessie. Our city gentlemen would be improved by learning in 
your school, Mr. Sylvester. 

Mr. Sylv. I learned it in a rough school, Miss Granger — but 
one thing there I did learn — and that was to honor women. 

Bessie {to Fred.) What a pity you did not graduate there. 

F'ed. What a pity I don't make a fool of myself. 

Bessie. Indeed it is {to Mr. Sylveste.) Let me show you the 
conservatory. 

Mr. Sylv. I shall be delighted. 

Bessie. Will you devote part of the evening to me, and tell 
me all about the gold mines — and the West. 

Mr Sylv. Not only this evening, but all my life, if you'll 
permit me. 

Bessie {laughing.) Then I will take possessionof my property. 

[Takes his ai'm. Exit Bessie and Sylv. 

Fred {looking after them.) " Take possession of her property." 
Did she mean what she said just now to me? Not she ; That is 
always the way of women — she thinks she will make me jealous — 
discard me for him — ridiculous — I will let her see that she cannot 
trifle with me — I will leave her to her Mr. Sylvester ; not one par- 
ticle of attention will I show her this night. She will be begging 
my pardon in the morning. 

Enter Mrs. Desmond. 
Mrs. D. Where is Bessie V 



40 THE GOLD MINE. 

Fred. I got my assistant engineer, Mr. Sylvester, to wait on 
her this evening, as I have more important things to attend to. 
I have consented to Mr. Covert's request that 1 should receive the 
deeds to the gold mine at the reception. He has invited John L. 
Simpkins, I understand, to come to-night and deliver them before 
all the company, with suitable ceremonies, etc. 

Mrs. D. That will be pleasant indeed. It will be as original 
and grand as you are in all things. Is it not time we should go 
and receive our guests ? 

Fi'ed. I think so — allow me. {Prese7itshis arm.) 

Mrs. D. Who will attend to Bessie ? 

Fred. I told Sylvester to attend to her. 

Fred. You are going to receive, of course ? 

Mrs. D. I am going to assist Bessie. 

Enter Bessie, leaning on Mr. Sylvestee's arm. 

Bessie. Mr. Sylvester, let me introduce you to my dearest 
friend, Mrs. Desmond. 

Mr. Sylv. I envy you tliat title, Mrs. Desmond. 

Mrs. D. My Bessie is warm-hearted, Mr. Sylvester 

Bessie. Oh, never mind me, here come our guests. 

Enter Ladies a)Hl Gentlemen [gnests) l. c. 

Bessie [to Sylvester). Now stay by my side [coquettishly). 
Recollect, you are my property all this evening. 

(Guests are received by Bessie and Mrs, Desmond. Guests 
then congratulate Fred on /lis return.) 

Enter Mr. Covert and Simpkins, disguised as an elderly gentle- 
man.) 

Mr. C. [brings Simpkins to Fred). You gentlemen have never 
met, I believe. Your agents have been doing the negotiations, I 
understand. Mr. Clancey, tliis is John L. Simpkins. He will 
soon have your money and you his gold mine. 

Fred. Glad to see you, sir, but you must excuse me now, I am 
going to dance. (Fred goes to secure a part7ier.) 



THE GOLD MINE. 41 

Sinipkins. Cool, that. 

Bessie {to Mr. Sylvester). Now let me get you a partner, 
and after the waltz come back to me. 

Sylv. Let me stay with you, please. 

Bessie {archly). You must do as I bid, then you can come 
back. {Leads him to a partner and returns to Mrs. Desmond. 
Music — dancing — icaltz.) (7b Mrs. Desmond.) Ain't he lovely? 
He is so handsome, and such a perfect gentleman. 

3frs. D. What would Fred think if he heard you? 

Bessie. I don't know — I don't care — and I like Mr. Sylvester a 
great deal better than him. 

Mrs. D. Hush, dear ! 

(Mr. Covert and Simpkins approach them.) 

Mr. C. Let me introduce to you, ladies, Mr. John L. Simp- 
kins. I will leave him in your charge for a few minutes. 

[Exit Mr. C. 

Mrs. D. Take a seat with us, Mr. Simpkins. (Simpkins sits 
between them. 3Iusic stops — vxdtz ends. Guests 2y''onienade.) 

Simpkins. I see that engineer, Fred sent to examine the gold 
mine is here. 

3frs. D. You mean Mi*. Sylvester ? 

Simpkins. Yes ; he's the man that did the woi'k. He went to 
Casey's in California — and a rough time he's had of it for two 
months — though he looks fresher than Fred does, who has been 
going it in the city all the time. 

Bessie. So Fred has been in the city the past two months ? 

Simpkins. Yes, and a gay time he has had of it. Women and 
wine, etc., etc. ; but young men will be young men. 

Bessie. Did Mr. Covert know this ? 

Simpkins. Why, of course ; Covert is a gay bird himself. 

Covert apjjroaches them. 
Covert {to Simpkins). Come and take a glass of wine. 
{All exit for siqyper except Bessie and Mrs. Desmond.) 



42 ■ THE GOLD MINE. • 

Mrs. JD. Darling, do not judge too hastily ; perhaps Fred can 
explain all this. 

Bessie. Explain it ! the liar, profligate and libertine ! 

Mrs. J). Hush, dear, hush ! 

Bessie. I will not. If he ever dares to speak to me again I 
will wither him with my contempt. Let me go to my room for a 
moment. [Exit Bessie. 

Enter Mr. Covert. 

Mr. C. Has the printer come with the deed ? 

Mrs. D. I expect him every minute. 

Mr. C. When it comes have everything arranged for signing 
it. Then send Bob for me, and I will bring Simpkins and the 
notary in. 

Mrs. D. Keep them all at the supper-table until I send you 
word. \Exit Mr, Covert. 

Miter Bessie and Bob. 

Bob. The printer brought this, ma'am. [Hands her a rolled 
paper, the deed.) 

(Mrs. Desmond takes deed from Bob, examining it carefully.) 

Mrs. D. It is all right. Bob, put that table here {j^oints L.). 
Bob obeys. 

Mra. D. Tell Mr. Covert everything is ready; that I am wait- 
ing for him. \^Exit Bob. 

Enter, c, Mr. Covert between Fred and Simpkins, followed by 
Notary and Clerks. ( These come to the table xohere Mrs. 
Desmond is standing.) Mr. Sylvester enters and sits by 
Bessie. Guests enter, followed by Bob. 

Mr. C. Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to witness the 
transfer, in this room, of a gold mine. (Pointing to Simpkins.) 
This gentlemen is the seller. (Pointing to Fred.) And this is 
the buyer for himself and 

Mrs. D. His associates. 

(Putting the deed before Simpkins, who signs the paper. The 
Notary and Clerks sign it. Notary puts red seal to his 
acknoicledgment ; then hands the paper to Simpkins.) 



THE GOLD MIISTE. 43 

Fred. Here is the money. Give me the deed. {Hands Simp- 
kins three checks.) Are tliey right ? 

jSwijjkins [looking at checks ; ^ncttijig them in his j^ocket). They 
are all right. (Hands Fred the 2)aper.) And here is your deed 
for the gold mine. You have got it cheap. 

Mr. C. (shaking/ hands loith Fred). Let me congratulate 
you. 

(Guests congratidate Fred. Simpkins stealthily gives the checks 

to Covert.) 

Covert (aside). That's O. K. A good price for rocks. 

3frs. D. (to Fred). I'll hold the deed ; make them a speech. 
(He gives her the deed.) 

Fred. My friends, I thank you much. 

Guests. Tell us where the gold mine is ? 

Mr. Simpkins. In California, at Casey's Mound. 

Sylv. (approaches excited to Simpkins). Where did you say the 
gold mine you have just sold is ? 

Simpkins. At Casey's Mound. 

Sylv. It is an infamous swindle ! Give back that money, you 
infernal scoundrel. 

Mr. C. (to Sylvester). Leave ray house, sir ; you shall not 
insult my guests. Mr. Clancey is able to take care of his interests 
without your interference. 

Fred. I should think so ; I know what I'm doing. Who, 
asked you, sir, for your opinion ? 

Mr. Sylv. You may do what you like Avith your own, but I'll 
not stand by and let that young lady (pointing to Bessie) be 
swindled. 

TiV rl \ (together.) Leave the house. 

3Ir. Sylv. No, not 'till I see justice done. (Approaches Simp- 
kins.) Give Miss Granger her money back, or 

Mrs. D. Hold ; that's the wrong man. (Snatches the vng ojf' 
o/ Simpkins' Aeaf/.) This is only the tool. (Points iJo Covert.) 
That is the master. (Holding up the deed.) There is no such 
word as mound in this deed. I own one-third of this property, 
and I took good care that the swindle (pointing at Covert) he 



44 THE GOLD MINE. 

intended should fail. (Covert attempts to snatch the deed from 
her.) 

Mrs. D. Stand back, thou fi'aud. 

Fred. Give me the deed. 

Mrs. D. I will not. 

Fred. You shall. 

Bessie. She shall not. ( Goes alongside of Mks. Desmond.) 
I will not trust you, and hei'e, before all my fi-iends, I discard you 
forever. 

(Fbkd and Mr. Covert both attempt to snatch the deed. Sylves- 
ter rushes between them.) 

Guests. Oh ! 

Mr. C. Leave my house, sir. 

Mrs. D. This is my house, and everything in it is mine. 
{Points to Covert.) I bought and paid for even the clothes on 
that man's back. You are my guests, and not his. Through his 
means I lost my husband and most of my fortune. He invited 
me here to spend the summer, thinking he could rob me of what I 
had left, and not only me, but this dear girl, and he has dared to 
slander me in his drunken revels. Bob [points to Covert), knock 
that slanderer down, and kick him out of my house. 

Bob {rushing at Covert). May I be turned out of church if I 
don't. {Knocks Covert down.) 

Kitty enters. 
Kitty and Gruests. Oh ! Oh ! 

{Fred rushing to Covert's assistance.) 

Sylv. {raises a chair over Fred's head). Don't you interfere, 
or by the heavens above me, I'll brain you where you stand. 

Quick Curtain. 

End op Act IV. 



THE GOLD MIDE. 45 



ACT V. 

Scene I. — Casey''s in Galijornia. — Rocky Scenery. — MiningHut. 
Crazy George in miner's dress discovered drilling a hole for 
a blast in the rocks at c. 

Crazy G, takes a large locket set with diamonds from his breast 
{the locket is hung round his neck by a buck-skin string). Look- 
ing round to see if any person sees him, comes down center, 
opens it, gets on his knees before it, kisses it, talks to it. 

Crazy G. I am not crazy — am I ? 1 took all your money, 
didn't I ? I bought a gold mine for you, didn't I ? I haven't the 
gold yet, though — but I will bring it soon. They told me I might 
bore here. If I only had a charge ! [puts his hands to his head.) 
My poor, head — it aches. Never mind, ray queen, I'll bring you 
back your money. {JHsses miniature, puts it back in his breast.) 
If I only had a charge ! 

Miter Mr. Sylvester. 

3fr. Sylv. Won't you go to the camp with rae, George ? 

Crazy G. If I only had a charge ! 

Mr. Sylv. Been drilling for a blast again, George ? 

Crazy G. ( Whisper's to him.) Most finished. If I only had a 
charge ! I ain't crazy^ am I ? If I only had a charge! 

Mr. Sylv. My poor fellow, you are not the only one a gold 
mine has made crazy. 

Crazy G. The queen is waiting. ( Whispers.) I spent her 
money. If I only had a charge ! ( Goes back to drilling.) 

Miter Bessie. 

Mr. Sylv. {taking off his hat). Good morning. Miss Bessie. 
As usual you are up earlier than many of the hands. 

Bessie. We have so much to do — washing, sewing, cooking for 
travelers, trying to earn money enough to support lis, so as to 



46 THE GOLD MINE. 

put all the money we brought with us into developing the mine, 
that I have to rise early and to work late. 

Mr. Sylii. I little thought I would ever see you or Mrs. Des- 
mond toiling like this. 

Bessie. How could we avoid it ? Do you suppose that I could 
have lived associated with Mr. Clancey ? I would have gone as 
servant first. I' hate the very name of that man. 

Mr. 8ylv. And if I had the money I would work as a servant 
if it took my last dollar to keep you from toils like this. 

Bessie. You have done foi" me more than money could. 

3Ir. 8ylv. I have done nothing more than my duty. 

Bessie. You have watched over, cheered and counseled Mrs. 
Desmond and me with a care as gentle as a woman and as brave 
as a lion. These scenes and trials have taught me more than I 
could tell you, or you would wish to hear; and now that all our 
money is gone, and no gold has come from where it went, and I 
have naught but a life of labor for self-support to look forward to, 
my only regret is that I can only prove my gratitude to Mrs. 
Desmond and you by words instead of acts. 

Mr. Sylv. Oh ! speak not thus. Think what my feelings must 
be in seeing day by day that mine, like a hungry monster, consum- 
ing all your store, while you toiled, trusting in me, that it would 
some day yield up that gold hidden within its dark recesses. While 
I, in whom you trusted, failed to make the monster give it up, and 
fed it with your toil. I have planned, devised and worked to reach 
its golden heart and lay it at your feet. I never felt the bitter- 
ness of povery until now, when I want gold for you. I have not 
gold to give you ; but I have a man's strength to labor for you. 
Let me but do it and that labor will be light to me. When you 
were rich I would not have dared to sue for that hand which is 
worth more to me than any gold mine. 

Bessie. {Gives him her hand.) It is empty now ; but it shall 
be yours if ever it is full. 

Mr. Sylv. Give it to me now, empty as it is, and I will prize 
it more than coffers tilled with gems. 

Bessie. I would not add to your burdens, nor would I wish to 
feel dependent ; but if the time should ever come when I shall 
have that gold that now I lack, come then, and take the hand that 



THE GOLD MINE. 47 

rests in yours ; but, until then, be still, as ever you have been, 
my truest friend. 

Enter Mrs. Desmond. 

Mrs. D. Mr. Sylvester, it grieves me to say that the works 
must stop, I find we have only money enough left to pay the 
wages of the men. I wish you to thank them for us and pay 
them off. 

Mr. Sylv. Cannot we keep the works going a little longer ? 
We are doing all that we can do to reach the paying ore. 

Mrs. D. Of that I am sure, but we have been disappointed in 
not reaching it before, it required more money to buy Fred 
Clancey out than we first thought, hence our lack of means. It is 
with pain I say it: the works must stop. 

Mr. Sylv. That means ruin. 

Mrs. D. I know it. 

Bessie. Do not despond ; we have health, we have done what 
is right, and though we may never reach the gold, I am thank- 
fnl that we bought it, though it should for the future, as it 
has in the past, consume not only our fortune but what we have 
made by toil. 

Mrs. J). And why, my dear ? 

Bessie. Because it has shown me the baseness of some {putting 
her one arm around Mrs, Desmond's 7ieck and giving one hand to 
Sylvester) — the goodness of others, 

Mrs. D. But it has been at such a cost to you, my dear, that 
it forms my greatest grief to think what you have suffered, 

Bessie. Then think not thus, for gladly would I give all this 
mine has cost me in gold, privation and in toil — aye ! and thrice 
ten thousand score to have been saved from wedding Clancey. 

Mrs. D. My brave, true-hearted girl. 

Mr. Sylv. Surely the God beneath whose skies you stand is 
smiling on you. 

Mrs. D. (to Bbssie). Let us go and seek His counsel — He will 
aid us. 

\Mcit Mrs. Desmond and Bessie. 

Mr. Sylv. (looking up to heaven). Rend thou these rocks for 



48 THE GOLD MINE. 

them. Give them that gold you here have hid, for none deserve 
it better. 

Enter Miners. 

Crazy G. {going round among the miners). If I only had a 
charge ! 

3fr. iSglv. {to Foreman). Have we any blasting charges left? 

Foreman. Only one. 

3fr. Sylv. Give it to that poor fellow ; it can do us no good. 

Foreman. What's the use of wasting powder on him. He has 
been blasting round the country for the last five years. There's 
not a camp that hasn't given Crazy George powder. 

3Iiners. That's all he ever asks for. 

Foreman. Better take him with us and make him eat instead 
of blasting round the camp. 

3Ir. Sylv. He won't go away from that hole till he has made 
the blast. Let him have that charge, Foreman. 

[^Exit Foreman. 

Mr. Sylv. Men, stay here till I return. I am going to tell 
Mrs. Desmond that you have come from the mine. [^Exit Sylv. 

Enter Kitty, carrying a hucket and a big pot^ followed by Bob 
carrying very large loash tub full of Miners' clothes and a 
bundle of wood under his arm. 

Kitty {to Bob). Put them things down. (Bob obeys.) Now 
go and get me the stool to put the tub on. (Bob going.) Bring 
me the soap, too. 

JBob. You're always forgetting something. May I be turned 
out of church if 

Kitty. If you don't go right straight and hurry back I'll send 
you back to New York and you shan't wait upon me. 

{Exit Bob. 

Miners. Oh ! don't treat the poor fellow so. 

Kitty. Who asked you to pity him ? He's better treated now 
than he deserves. I've got a big washing to do for you all and 
no one to help me except Miss Bessie. 



THE GOLD MINE. 49 

Miners. Miss Bessie shan't ; we'll help you ourselves. 

Kitt(/. Now, that's right ; some of you go and get all the tubs 
back of the house ; some of you go and get the water ; one of 
you get all the soap that's under the shed ; bring all the clothes 
that you'll find in the corner. [Mvit Miners rapidly. 

Kitty (with her hands on her hips). How I like to make the 
men obey me, A woman is worth something in the mines. I 
think I'll take that big-whiskered foreman and rule him all my 
life, just to please myself and spite Bob. 

Enter Miners. Running in with the tubs, etc., Kitty sent for. 

Miners. Here we are, Miss Kitty. 

Kitty. Put them down. Now go to work. 

(Miners obey. All the men on their knees before the tubs toashitig. 
Kitty loalkiny np and down directing them with a queenly 
air.) 

Miter Bob. 

Hob. May I be turned out of church ! 



Enter Mr. Sylvester. 
Kitty. Oh ! \^Exit Kitoy. 

(Miners all rise, looking abashed.) 

Miners. Only helping Kitty, sir. 

3Ir. Sylv. {to Foreman, who enters). Were you helping Kitty, 
too? 

Foreman. I have been trying to get her to let me help her all 
my life ; but that cursed Bob is in my way, I fear. 

Mr. Sylv. She thinks more of your black whiskers than she 
does of that fellow's whole body. 

Foreman. I'm blessed, then, if I don't ask her, after I give 
this charge to Crazy George. {Goes to Crazy G,, hands him the 
charge, and is going out l. Stops as Mr, Sylvester commences 
speaking.) 

Mr. Sylv. {to Miners), Men, I am instructed by Mrs. Desmond 
and Miss Bessie to thank you all for the faithful manner in which 
you have worked since they came to the mines, and to pay you 
your wages. 



60 TIIK GOLD MINE. 

Miners. Hurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! 

3Ir. Sylv. {raising his hand for silence). But tlioy are grieved 
to tell you the works must stop. 

Miners. No, uo, no ! 

Foreman. Men, let me have my say. If we haven't struck 
the vein yet, it ain't no fault of Mr. Sylvester, nor of us; one 
month's more work and we'll strike it. That's me — and I say, 
wages or no wages let us keep on. 

Miners. Yes ; yes ; keep on ! Hurrah for Mrs. Desmond ! 
Hurrah for Miss Bessie ! {Cheer in</.) 

Foreman. One more for our superintendent. 

Miners. Hurrah for Mr. Sylvester ! {Cheering.) 

Mr. Sylv. Thank you, men, for them and myself ; V>ut the 
works cannot go on. The mine lias swallowed all their money. 
When your wages are paid all that will be left to them is the 
mine. 

Foreman. We're not the men to leave them in the lurch ; are 
we, mates ? 

Mi7iers. Not we ; we don't wnnt. our wages ; keep the money 
for grub ; we'll strike the vein yet. 

Foreman. We arc going on \\\\}\ our work. Keep the money 
to buy grub to feed us ; we'll strike tlic vein befoi'e it all gives 
out ; won't we mates ? 

Miners. That's the talk. 

Enter Mrs. Desmond and Bessie. Mixers cheer them as they 

enter. 

3Iiners. ilurrah ! hurrah ! hurrah ! 

^7) • '. ' t Thanks to you all : thanks. 
-Bessie. \ •' 

3Ir. Sylv. The men say they will not take their wages now. 
To buy provisions with it for them. Tiiey believe they will stiike 
the vein before long. Tliey want to go on with the work. 

Mrs. I). Men, this would not be just. 

Bessie. You are all so good ; but how could we i)ay you if 
you did not reach the vein? 

Foreman. Mistress, you and Miss Bessie there have been kind 
and good to us. We have seen you working as hard as any of 
us, so as to make your money go as far as possible. You are a 



THE GOLD MINE. 51 

pair of honest, plucky women, and we ain't the men to desert you 
now. 

Miners. That's the talk ; not we. 

JBessie. Very much affected. 

Sylv. {to Bessie.) Do not take it to heart so, Miss Bessie. We 
will strike the vein yet. 

Bessie. It is the kindness of you all that affects me. 

Mrs. D. My good men I fear we could never pay you. 

Foreman. {Pointlnff to Sylvester.) That's as good an engineer 
and as smart a superintendent as I have ever worked under, ain't 
he mates ? 

3finers. He's one of the right sort. 

Foreman. If Mr. Sylvester will go on leading us, we'll stick 
to the mine till we strike the gold, or the grub gives out. 

Miners. Talking sense now. 

Mr. Sylv. ( To Mrs. Desmond and Bessie.) Let the men have 
their way. 

Mrs. D. Very well. 

Mr. Sylv. That's all right, boys, we will go on with the work. 
I'll buy provisions with the money and make them last as long 
as possible. 

Miners. That's the man. 

Mr. Sylv. Then all hands to work. [Fxit Miners. 

[ Cheering. Led hy Sylvester. 

Crazy G. has finished the blast and ^>?/^ a match to it. Turns 
around; sees Mrs. Desmond. Tremblingly approaches her. 
Stops gazing at her greatly agitated. 3Ioves — stops — jnits 
his hands to his head ; tries to speak ; staggers torcards her ; 
screams; faints— falls — Mrs. Desmond and Bessie rush 
to him,. 

Mrs. B. Bessie, get some water ! Quick ! Quick ! 

\Exit Bessie. 
Mrs. B. {bending over him.) Poor man. 

Crazy Cr., recovering, rising partially ; feels his head ; look- 
ing intensely at her. 

Mrs. B. Do you feel better now ? 



52 THE (.OM> MINE. 

Crazy G. Hush, did you hear ? 

3Irs. 1). Yes, yes, be still for a little, you will he hetter soon. 

Crazy G. She's talking. Hush ! Tell her I'll bring all her 
money back. 

3Irs. D. Yes, yes. 

Crazy G. She's a queen. Look, {takes out the locket, opens it, 
kisses it.) Look. [Presenting miniature.) She's a queen. 

31rs. D. My husband ! George ! George ! Help ! Help ! 

Enter Bessie, Sylvester, Foreman, Miners, Kitty , folknved by 
Bob icith some sticks, a pot and fire. Kitty motions Bob go 
and build the fire for her washing. Bob is making the fire 
lohere Crazy George was drilling. 

Crazy G. [rising.) Who spoke ? 
3frs. D. My husband, speak to me ! Speak to me ! 
Crazy G. Queen. 

Mrs. D. (throtcing her arms around him.) Speak again ! Speak 
again ! 

Crazy G. Queen. 

Mrs. D. He knows me ; he knows me. 
Crazy G. My wife. [Embracing her.) 
Bessie. Thank God ! he is restored. 
Mr. tSylv. God brought her to the gold mine. 

[Explosion. The rocks fall. The blast tears open the rocks, expos- 
ing the rich veins of gold.) 

Miners. The vein. The vein. 
Mr. Sylv. God's hand has done it. 

(Bessie puts Iter hand in Sylvester's.) 

Mrs. D. [to Mr. Desmond.) Thou art more to me than all the 
gold within this mine. 

Miners. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

Foreman [to Kitty). You're my gold mine. 

Bob. May I be turned out of church. 

Bessie [to Sylvester). There is the hand you asked for. 

3Irs. D. [to Miners, and then turns to audience) . Kind friends 
and smiles from those we love are better than a gold mine 
(Miners cheering). 

Quick Curtain. 



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015 775 233 9 ^ 



